Procol Harum, A Whiter Shade Of Pale - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

I first started to play this song by ear in 1977, as a fifteen year old. It earned me a place in a band as the youngest ever member. Until today, when, as a 62 old, when I jam this song in bars, it stops people from drinking and they start to listen.

The drums are essentially what makes this song a rock tune. They draw the song into present day music.

in 2006 Matthew Fischer, the procol harum organist who created the recurring organ melody, won in court the right to receive royalties from the song as co-author, since until then only lyricist Reid and Gary Brooker who composed the song's melody voice received. When asked why he had not filed the case sooner, he said that he had been told that he would not win the case. In my opinion, the organ part is as important as the song itself. When we remember this song, it is this blessed organ that comes to mind. According to Peter Frampton, this is the most beautiful ballad ever written. I agree with him and it was released the year I was born, 1967

You must watch/listen to their live performance from 2006 in Denmark with orchestra and choir backing. More emotionally impactful and moving than the original studio version. Most people end up teary. Thank you .

Procol Harum in Denmark 2006 has a full orchestra and choir. What's more amazing is his voice sounds the same decades later.

I cannot even imagine something this great and complex could make into the charts these days. How deep we had fallen... 😶

Let me be the first to mention the recording that Vlad no doubt already has queued up: the 2006 live performance that paired Procol Harum with the Danish National Concert Orchestra and choir at Ledreborg Castle. It is glorious. It is emotionally very satisfying to see Sir Harry Booker play piano and sing triumphantly with the orchestra and choir backing the original band.

Peter Frampton says this is the greatest song ever written.

I am 82 years old and I think I could listen to this every day. Thank you for finally getting around to it.

Glad you noticed the drumming on this. Excellent from the drummer. It makes it so much more impactful.

At my 88 year old mother's request, this was played at her funeral.

I never really noticed this before, but he must have worked on his voice massively over the decades. By the time of the live performance in Denmark, it’s more mature/ mellow/coloratura, more physically powerful — and the phrasing is so much more subtle and accomplished.

The drums are creating the energy and forward momentum with all those little traps and fills, almost like the singer catching his breath between all these complex images and lines of thought. They also bring variety and an element of improvisation as the rest of the instruments hold to a fairly stately and elegantly steady score (apart from the important organ swells).

I wish you would react to "Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale, live in Denmark 2006". It's very good.

The live version in Denmark touches your heart

Just to reiterate that you must listen to the 2006 Live recording in Denmark with orchestra and choir. Gary Brooker's voice was like a fine wine that had aged for the better. Amazing.

I've read the comments and I know a lot of people already mentioned the 2006 Denmark performance, but I really wanted to add my voice to the choir of people recommending it, it really is something else.

The organ sound is also piped into a device called a "Leslie speaker" which has a rotating drum/baffle that adds a shimmering quality to it. You could particularly hear it during the "and so it was..." section, if you listen closely.

Another excellent review, Amy. The vocal and organ countermelodies blew this 16 year old's mind back in '67 and still impresses nearly 60 years on. However, I never realized how important a part the percussion played in linking the two melodies. I've been a fan of Procol Harum ever since A Whiter Shade of Pale was released. I saw them perform on a Friday night in 1967 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom during the band's first U.S. tour. (BTW, Pink Floyd was the opening act that night!) Thank you again, Amy, for showing me and others a whole new way of understanding an old favorite!

One of the best songs ever.